Ministry to operate drive through swabbing hubs for two days

الوزارة تطلق مراكز المسح من المركبات لمدة يومين

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced that it will operate drive through swabbing hubs at three health centres for two days, for a community based survey on COVID-19.

This temporary drive through swabbing hubs will be operated in collaboration with the Primary health Care Corporation, Hamad Medical Corporation’s Ambulance Service, laboratories and Qatar University, said the MoPH, yesterday.

“The aim of this exercise is to conduct a community survey and gain more insight into community transmission and asymptomatic cases, which will in turn inform policy decisions. These temporary drive through swabbing hubs are by referral-only,” said the Ministry in social media accounts.

“A group of 2,500 members of the public will be involved in a unique study that will allow better understanding of the flow of the virus in the community and adapt responses to the scientific findings,” it added.

The ministry has also clarified that participants of the test will be randomly selected based on age, gender and ethnicity and participation is entirely voluntary.

The drive through COVID-19 survey and testing will be conducted at the Al Thumama, Al Waab and Leabaib health centres on Wednesday and Thursday from 2pm to 10pm.

A text message invitation will be sent by from PHCC and the person will have to do an online registration, and then can arrive at the designated health centre by their own car. At the testing health centre the person will be given a survey questionnaire and nose and throat swab test will be done. The results will be sent to via a text message.

To mention, in the beginning of April, the MoPH opened a drive through COVID-19 testing station for people under home quarantine following their return to Qatar from travel. The drive through testing was reserved for those who have returned to Qatar from overseas between March 10 and March 21.